The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1887-11-09
THE RUSSIAN SOLDIER.
PHYSICAL lNFERloRlTY OF THE
CARS PEASANT SUBJECTS.

People and q Son-Miiitary Glass.
Their Strong Points ms soldiers-Their
brutality and Earbarism.
1t is generally supposed that the Rus
sian soldier is physically an uncommonly
fine man. This idea doubtless arose from
the fact that the Guard corps, quartered
at st. Petersburg and Warsaw, and COM
posed OF carefully selected men, are the
troops most frequently seen by visitors to
Russia; and these are of strikingly fine
physique. But the average size of the
Russian is probably less than that of any
people in Europe. The annual contingent
Of recruits that joined the colors in 1888
consisted, according TO the armed
strepcth of Russfa," OF 214, 1873 men. OF
these 80, 39l were under 8 feet l 1-4inches
in height; 81, GG3 were between 5fcat | IA
inches and s feet 8 inches; GLASS were be-
tween 5 feet 3 inches and D feet A "a
inches; 43, 1G+ were between . feet 4 3-4
inches and 3 feet q IL inches; 2i,432 were
over 6 feet 6 IL inches.
In all other countries the minimum
standard height for the army is higher
than the above. In the British army, for
example, though it varies from time to
time, according to the state Of the recruit
ing market, it is usually about $ feet 4 1-2
inches. The lowest it has ever reached is
8 feet 3 inches clear; and at that standard
s 500 of the PA, 1873 Russian recruits for
1883, or considerably over one-third,
would haze been rejected for the British
army.
AN 1LLITERATE PEOPLE.
The Russians are essentially n race OF
peasants. In the above contingent 1871, 1G7
about so per ccnt.-wcrc inoujikS. That
they are an illiterate people is generally
known; but perhaps the extent Of their
illiteracy is not SO generally realized. In
the same contingent 1G2, ESQ men-ovcr
three-fourths-could neither read nor
write.
Another idea which prevails to some
extent is that the Russian is naturally of n
warllkc temperament; that he has mn in
born aptitude for TIL career Of arms, such
as exist to a large degree among the
French, or even that he looks upon sol
diering as his proper vocation, us the Sikh
does, and is happy only when following
the drum. This, while true in regard to
the Cossack, is entirely n false idea in re-
gard to the mass of the population. y re
cent writer in Blackwool's Magazine, who
has spent many years in Russia, gives an
excellent account of the army II of the
peasantry who mainly compose it. In
reading the following extract, it is well TO
know that of the Russian soldiers fifteen
years service six are spent in the army
and nine in the reserve.
Skobelefr knew the Russian soldier
thoroughly and admired him highly. but
he found it necessary on occasion to yield
to this savagery of disposition. After tho
storming of Cock Tepc and the dispersal
of its defenders he gave his soldiers carte
blanche nc IN fbnir artinng for aynrt1p
twenty-four hours. 1t was a terrible
twenty-four hours for the Turkoman
women and children. A few hours later
Skobcleff had two soldiers shot for SOM
trining breach of discipline.
THE PEASANT AS A soLDIEE
The writer in Blackwood says:
''The Russian peasantry is probably the
most non-military class to be found in
Europe. The moment the soldier gets ont
of his uniform he rcverts completely tc
his original condition, and after twelve
months absence from the colors he Is, or
rejoining, little better than a new recruit,
He seems to take 40 pride in his uniform,
he hates the irksomeness of military dis
cipliue and he particularly hates fighting
Further characteristics of the mouiik arr
his logged determination and patience
under difficulties, both qualities of tn,
highest value in a soldier. He is, unde
ordinary circumstances, u soft hearted
good natured fellow; but there are savagl
instincts in his semi-barbarous natur
which render him capable of almost nm!
brutality if he is once thoroughly excited
The awful atrocities committed during thu
late persecution of the Jews arc still fresl
in our minds and bear witness to the saw
agery Of the Russian peasant.
1.-The Russian soldier, if given fail
play, is hard to beat. But it is only the
expected danger or difficulty which the
Russian meets thus well. Left to his own
resources, the unexpected overwhelms
him, and in the sharp struggle where
prompt action is required he is easily
worsted unless thoroughly well led. II
you strike n Russian unexpectedly YOU
may follow up the blow and probably
overcome him before he has realized what
you are at. 1t is not cowardice that ails
him, 1t is simply bewilderment. In al
my ~wanderings among the Russian PEG
pie / cannot call to mind a single instance
of real cowardlce displayed; but on TIT
other hand l cannot remember an in
stance of danger being courted from {
love of adventure or II spirit of daring
Elan and love of adventure arc unknown
qualities among the peasantry, and ar
therefore nonresident in the army
New Orleans Times Democrat.